Vane structure



J. R. M VEIGH VANE STRUCTURE Filed Sept. 7, 1954 Jan 14, 1958 26 26 I8 %as zzjig FIGJ.

INVENTOR.

JOHN R. McVEI GH ATTORNEYS VANE STRUCTURE John R. McVeigh, Williamsville, N. Y.

Application September 7, 1954, Serial No. 454,264

12 Claims. (Cl. 253-78) This invention relates to a vane structure particularly applicable to a high temperature gas turbine and more specifically to a nozzle or inlet guide vane and to the means for mounting said assembly.

The vane assembly here disclosed involves a vane section having a tang mounted in a collar encircled shaft or support structure by means of a snap ring, the said structure being held in a turbine ring by a pin or other suitable locking means.

Turbine nozzle vanes often have curved surfaces in order to function more efficiently and efliectively. l These vanes heretofore have been made by a series of complex and lengthy operations to form, cut and fit the vane into the turbine ring. Considerable and costly equipment has been required for suchprocessing.

The instant invention substantially reduces the cost of nited States Patent manufacture ofthese vanes and the nozzle vane ring, by

virtue of a simplified vane and mount construction. The invention provides for a preformed vane section cut from rolled, extruded, or form ground stock, for a tongue or tang section insertable into thesplit end of a mounting support, for the retention of the vane in the support by a simple snap ring, for the support of the vane and support assembly in an adapter which is in turn pin mountedin the vane ring. The objects of the invention include the provision of means to achieve this construction, andito accomplish the same in a simple, eflicient, economical and practical manner.

These desirable advantages and features of construction are among the principal objects of the invention. Ad-' ditional objects and structural elements will become more apparent from the description given below. For a visual nnderstandingof the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawing in. which like parts are referred to by like reference numerals throughout the severalviews illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention, and in which Fig. 1 is a top plan fragmentary view of a gas turbine ring embodying the inventive construction.

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the ring portion shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view-substantially on the line 33 of'Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view substantially on the line 44 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a curvedand tapered vane which may be embodied in the inventive construe? tlOIl.

As shown in the several views of the drawing,.the gas turbine vane ring 10"comprises a ringportion 12,. and a series of nozzle or inlet guide vane assemblies 144nounted in the ring portion.

The vane assembly 14 comprises a vane blade .16, ar-. ranged 'with a bladeportion .18 .and..a.tang,.20, .a :blade support or shaft'22,;a.snap.ring 24, anradapter comprising an outer shaft collar or sleeve 26, and a nut 27. Vane EQQ blade16ispreferably made of a material for withstanding. high temperatures such as for instance, bonded titanium carbide. The vane cross-section may be-rectangu-. lar with. flat parallel sides, or it may be, asshown, of a curvedcross-sectional character. The vanecross-section may also be tapered along one edge or both edges-28-,. as shown in Fig. 6.

The nozzle or inlet guide vane 16 has its blade portion 18 arranged with a lower edge 30 designed to rest on. or close to the ring portion 12. Tang 20 is formed integrally with the blade portion 18, is substantially continuous therewith, and has two parallel undercut -shoulders.32.and a base portion 34. Since vane 16 is designed to bemade from a strip of the desired material, tang20, being .sub= stantially central of the vane cross-section, .will have .the configuration of that portion of the vaneblade, the side faces thereof being preferably substantially continuous with the side faces of the blade 18. If the section is rectangular in form, the tang will be preferably rectangu: lar in cross-section; and if the vane bladesection is curved, the tongue or tang will therefore be preferablycurvediin cross section.

The blade support preferably comprises a sh'aft'22 which is'substantially cylindrical in form, and is provided with a flange portion 36, a shoulder 38, a barrel portion 40', of reduced diameter than flange portion 36,and a threaded hub end 42. The flange 36 and a portion of the barrel.40 is axially cut or slotted to provide a tang slot 44.1 The character of the slot 44, i. e. whetherit isv a straight or a curved'cut, will depend primarily upon the cross-sectional shape of the tongue or tang 20 which willlbe inserted thereinto. However, it is not esseutia'Lthat slot 44 conform exactly to the cross-sectionalcharacterof the tang 20, as it can be easily appreciated that the tang will'be firmly clamped and held in the shaft 22 by snap ring 24.- A pin hole 46 preferably ellipiticalincross section is drilled through shaft barrel 40 beloW-tangsl'ot 44.

The adapter which preferably comprises'a shaft collar or sleeve 26 is cylindrical in form and is provided with a counterbore 48 and a bore '50. Counterbore-48is sub stantially the diameter of shaft flange 36, sothat' said blade support is readily supportedin said ada'pter,1 and bore 50 has substantially the diameter "of 'shaft barrel 411i The shaft flange and barrel 36 and 40, areconcentr'ic with collar counterbore and bore, 48 and 50, respectively; The shaft fits into the collar with a close sli'p *fit'. Collar-26 is provided with a pin hole '52 throughit's lower' portidn', said hole being slightly larger than pin hole '46 -in sh'aft barrel 40 preferably about .020 inches-or'more :larger than the said hole 46. The length of collar 26 may' 'be just slightly longer than the combined "length 'of-the shaft flange andbarrel.

Vane ring portion '12 is provided 'with spaced holes54 to receive the adapter or collar 26, and is provided'with openings 56through the walls 58 0f the cylindrical bore 5.4,intowhich a pin 60 is pressed.

The 'vane assembly 14-is arrangedwith vane-blade =16 havingiits 'bladeportion 18 positioned-abovethe"shaft flange .36and'its' tang 20 seated in shafts1ot-44; The tang'base portion 34 does not bottom in theslo't 44; but is-preferably spaced slightly thereabove. The tang shoul ders 32 are arranged below the shaft shoulder "38, and snap ring 24 is slipped over shaft barrel40 =and tang shoulders 32 to seat therebetween, locking the vane-blade 16 firmly in shaft 22 and securing same frorn'longitudinal displacement therewith.

The vane blade and shaft are then'slipped into collar 26; with shaft barrel 40 passing throughcollar borer50, theshaft pin hole 46 being aligned .with :colla-rrpinrrhoh 52. Nut '27 is vthreaded'onto shaft hublendu lztdrawing the shaft shoulder 38 firmly against the snap ring 24 and pressing'collar 26 firmly against vane lower edge 30. In this arrangement, the parts are passed into the vane ring cylinder bore 54, the pin holes being there aligned with openings 56. Pin 60 is then passed through these holes to anchor the vane assembly 14 in ring portion 12. Thus, the vane assembly may be positively and frictionally anchored in the gas turbine ring portion 12.

A gas turbine ring can therefore be economically produced by casting the ring portion 12, drilling bores 54 therein, assembling vanes 14 and positively mounting them in the ring 12 as above described. By forming a long strip of vane in the particular cross section desired, cutting off the individual vane blades 16, and providing them with the tangs 20, enables the manufacturer to produce these ring assemblies at substantial savings over current manufacturing practices.

It will also be understood that though the vane blade cross-section may be curved, the tang 23 may, if desired, be ground with flat parallel sides to have a rectangular cross-section therethrough, or said tang may have the same curvature as the blade.

The vane blades and mount construction here disclosed is not limited to use in any particular type of turbine construction, but may be employed in radial, inward, axial or mixed flow turbines without modification, or with various other applications.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains that various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

, '1. In a vane ring construction having an annular vane ring and a plurality of vane members, vane mount assemblies adapted to be secured to said vane ring and each comprising a vane support structure, said support structure having a flange provided with a shoulder and an axial slot through said flange and flange shoulder, said vane members each comprising a blade portion and a tang depending therefrom, said tang having a laterally extending base portion provided with shoulders, said tang constructed and arranged to be located in said slot, so that said base portion laterally extends from said slot to provide a space between said tang base shoulder and said flange shoulder, locking means disposed in the space between said flange shoulder and said tang base shoulders for retaining said vane member in said vane mount as-' sembly, and means urging said tang base shoulders and said flange shoulder into rigid engagement with said locking-means.

2. In a vane ring construction having an annular vane ring and a plurality of vane members, vane mount assemblies adapted to be secured to said vane ring and comprising substantially a cylindrical vane support structure, said support structure having a flange portion and a barrel portion of reduced diameterdefining a shoulder on said flange portion, an axial slot through said flange and a portion of said barrel, said vane member comprising a blade portion and a tang depending therefrom, said tang having a base and undercut edges between said base and said vane blade portion and defining shoulders on said base, said tang constructed and arranged to be located in the slot of said support structure, so that said base laterally extends from said slot to provide a space between said tang base shoulders and said flange shoulder, locking means disposed in the space between said flange shoulder and said tang base shoulders for retaining said Vane member in said vane mount assembly, and means urging said tang base shoulders and said flange shoulder into rigid engagement with said locking means.

3. In a vane ring construction having an annular vane ring and a plurality of vane members, vane mount assemblies adapted to be secured to said vane ring and comprising a substantially cylindrical vane support structure, said support structure having a flange portion and a barrel portion of reduced diameter defining a shoulder on said flange portion, an axial slot through said flange and a portion of said barrel, said vane members each comprising a blade portion and a tang depending therefrom, said tang having a base and undercut edges between said base and said vane blade portion and defining shoulders on said base, said tang constructed and arranged to be located in the slot of said support structure, so that said base laterally extends from said slot to provide a space between said tang base shoulders and said flange shoulders, locking means disposed in the space between said flange shoulder and said tang base shoulders for'retaining said vane member in said vane mount assembly, and means urging said tang base shoulders and said flange shoulder into rigid engagement with said locking means, said vane tang undercut edges aforesaid defining shoulders on said vane blade portion, said vane mount assemblies aforesaid each having a collar arranged over said support structure and against said blade portion shoulders to enclose the support structure, the vane tang, and the locking means, and means securing said support structure in said collar.

' 4. In a vane ring construction having an annular vane ring and a plurality of vane members, vane mount assemblies adapted to be secured to said vane ring and comprising a substantially cylindrical vane support structure, said support structure having a flange portion and a barrel portion of reduced diameter defining a shoulder on said flange portion, an axial slot through said flange and a portion of said barrel, said vane members each comprising a blade portion and a tang depending therefrom, said tang having a base and undercut edges betweensaid base and said vane blade portion and defining shoulders on said base, said tang constructed and arranged to be located in the slot of said support structure so that said base portion laterally extends from said slot to provide a space between said tang base shoulders and said flange shoulder, locking means disposed in the space between said flange shoulders for and said tang base shoulder retaining said vane member in said vane mount assembly, and fastening means urging said tang base shoulders and said flange shoulder into rigid engagement with said locking means, said vane tang undercut edges aforesaid defining shoulders on said vane blade portion, said vane mount assemblies aforesaid each having a collar arranged over said support structure and against said blade portion shoulders to enclose the support structure, the vane tang, and the locking means, and means securing said support structure in said collar, said support structure having a threaded hub end depending from said barrel portion and projecting beyond said collar, and said fastening means comprising a threaded element adapted to be secured to said threaded end and to bear against said collar to retain said collar in firm engagement with said blade portion shoulders aforesaid.

5. In a vane ring construction having an annular vane ring and a plurality of vane members, vane mount assemblies aadpted to be secured to said vane ring and comprising a substantially cylindrical vane support structure, said support structure having a flange portion and a barrel portion of reduced diameter defining a shoulder on said flange portion, an axial slot through said flange and a portion of said barrel, said vane members each comprising a blade portion and a tang depending therefrom, said tang having a base and undercut edges between said base and said vane blade portion and defining shoulders on said base, said tang constructed and arranged to be located in the slot of said support structure so that said base portion laterally extends from said slot to provide a space between said tang base shoulders and said flange shoulder, locking means disposed in the space between said flange shoulder and said tang base shoulders for retaining said vane member in said vane mount assembly, and fastening means urging said tang base J sh'ouiders and-said flange shoulder into rigid-engagement withsaid lock-ing means-, said*-vane'tang undercut-edges aforesaid defining shoulders -on' said vane blade portion, said vanemount assemblies-aforesaid*each having a collar arranged over said support structureand against said bladeportion shoulders toenclosethe support structure, the vane tang, and-the locking means, and means securing said support .structure in said =collar ,--said support structure having a threaded hub end depending from said barrel'portion and projecting beyond said collar, and said fastening means comprising a threaded element adapted to be secured to said threaded hub end and to bear against said "collar to retain said collar in firm engagement with said blade portion shoulders aforesaid, said annular vane ring aforesaid having spaced openings arranged for the-insertion of said vane mount assemblies therein, andmeans securingthe support structures and :the collarsof said vane mount assemblies in said spaced openings.

6. In a vane ring construction having an annular vane ring and a plurality of vane members, vane-mount assemblies-adapted to be secured to said vane ring and com prisin -asubstantially cylindrical vane support structure, said Isupport structure having a flange portion and a barrel portion ofreduced diameter defining a shoulder on said flange portion, an axial slot through said flange and a portion of said barreL'said vanemembers each comprisinga'blade portion and a tang dependingtherefrom, said tang having a base=and undercut edges betweensaid base and said-vane blade portion anddefiningshbulde'rs on said base, saidtang constructed "and arranged to be located inthe slot of said support structure so that said baseportion laterally-extends from said slot-to provide arspace between'said tang base shoulders and said-flange shoulder, locking means disposed in the space between said: flange shoulder and said tang base shoulders for retaining saidvane member insaid vane mount assembly; and fastening means urging said tang base shoulders and said flange-shoulderinto rigid engagement withsaid lock ing-means, said vane tang'undercut edges aforesaid defining shoulders on said vane blade portion, said-*vane mountr assemblies aforesaid each havin'g a collar arranged over said support structure and againstsaidiiblade portion shoulders to enclose the support structure, the vane tang, anduthe locking. means; and means" securing said support structurenin saidacollar, saidsupport structure having a threaded hub and depending from said barrel portion and projecting beyond said collar, and said fasteningjmeans comprising "a threaded element adapted to be secured to saidthreaded hub endand to bear against said collar to retain said collar in firm engagement with SHl'dxblfldEiPOl'tiOH shoulders aforesaid,:said annular vane ring aforesaid having spaced tubular members depending therefrom and arranged for the insertion of said vane mount assemblies therein, said support structure and collar of each vane mount assembly and each vane ring tu bular member having pin holes bored in axial alignment therethrough, and a pin located in said aligned pin holes throughout the extent thereof.

7. In a vane ring construction having an annular vane ring and a plurality of vane members, vane mount assemblies adapted to be secured to said vane ring and comprising a substantially cylindrical vane support structure, said support structure having a flange portion and a barrel portion of reduced diameter defining a shoulder on said flange portion, an axial slot through said flange and a portion of said barrel, said vane members each comprising a blade portion and a tang depending therefrom, said tang having a base and undercut edges between said base and said vane blade portion and defining shoulders on said base, said tang constructed and arranged to be located in the slot of said support structure so that said base portion laterally extends from said slot to provide a space between said tang base shoulders and said flange shoulder, and locking means disposed 'in'-th'e space betweensaid flange shoulder and said tangbase-shoulders for retaining said vane member in saidvane mount-assembly, and fastening means urging said tang base shoulders vand said flange shoulder into rigid engagement with said locking means, said vane tang-undercutedges aforesaid defining shoulders on said vane blade portion, said vane mount assemblies aforesaid each having a collar arranged over said support structure and against said blade portionshoulders to enclose the support structure, the vane-tang, and the lockingmeans, and means securing-said support structure in said collar, said support structure having a threaded hub end depending from said barrel portion and projecting beyond saidcollar, and said fastening means comprising a threaded element adapted to be secured to said threaded hub end and to bear against said collar to retain said collar in firm engagement with said blade portion shoulders aforesaid, said annular vane ring aforesaid having spaced tubularmembers depending therefrom and arranged for the insertion of said vane mount assemblies therein; said support structure and collar of each vane mount assembly and each vane ring tubular member having pin-holes bored in axial alignment therethrough, and a 'pin 'located in said aligned pin holes throughout the extent thereof, said threaded means aforesaid adapted to draw said support structure against said pin in one direction and to force said collar against said pin in the opposite direction, whereby to lock said collar and said support structure firmly onsaid pin.

8. In a vane ring construction having an annular vane ring and a plurality of vane members, vane mount assembliesadapted to be secured to said vane ring and com: prising a substantially cylindrical vane support structure, said support structure having a flange portion and a barrelportion of reduced diameter defining a shoulder on said flange portion, an axial slot through said flange and a portion of said barrel, said vane members each comprisinga blade portion and a tang depending therefrom, said tang having a base and undercut edges between said base and said vane blade portion and defining shoulderson said base, said tang constructed and arranged to be located in the slot of said support structure so that said base portion laterally extends from said slot to prof vide a space between-said tang base shouldersand said flange shoulder, and an annular locking ringdisposed around said barrel'in the space between said flange ShOUl-e der and said tang base shoulders whereby'to retain said vane member in said vane mount assembly, and means urging said tang base shoulders and said flange shoulder into rigid engagement With said locking ring to prevent longitudinal and lateral separation of said vanemember and saidvane mount assembly."

9. In a vane ring construction having an annular vane ring and a plurality of vane members, vane mount assemblies adapted to be secured to said vane ring and comprising a substantially cylindrical vane support structure, said support structure having a flange portion and a barrel portion of reduced diameter defining a shoulder on said flange portion, an axial slot through said flange and a portion of said barrel, said vane members each comprising a blade portion and a tang depending therefrom, said tang having a base and undercut edges between said base and said vane blade portion and defining shoulders on said base, said tang constructed and arranged to be located in the slot of said support structure so that said base portion laterally extends from said slot to provide a space between said tang base shoulder and said flange shoulder, locking means disposed in the space between said flange shoulder and said tang base shoulders for retaining said vane member in said vane mount assembly, said vane tang undercut edges aforesaid defining shoulders on said vane blade portion, said vane mount assemblies aforesaid each having a collar arranged over said support structure and against said blade portion shoulders to enclose the support structure, the vane tang,

7 and the locking means, and means securing said support structure in said collar, said vane tang having side surfaces substantially continuous with the side surfaces of the blade portion.

10. In a vane ring construction having an annular vane ring and a plurality of vane members, vane mount assemblies adapted to be secured to said vane ring and comprising a substantially cylindrical vane support structure, said support structure having a flange portion and a barrel portion of reduced diameter defining a shoulder on said flange portion, an axial slot through said flange and a portion of said barrel, said vane members each comprising a blade portion and a tang depending there from, said tang having a base and undercut edges between said base and said vane blade portion and defining shoulders on said base, said tang constructed and arranged to be located in the slot of said support structure so that said base portion laterally extends from said slot to provide a space between said tang base shoulders and said flange shoulder, and an annular locking ring disposed around said barrel in the space between said flange shoulder and said tang base shoulders whereby to retain said vane member in said vane mount assembly, and means urging said tang base shoulders and said flange shoulder into rigid engagement with said locking ring to prevent longitudinal and lateral separation of said vane member and said vane mount assembly, said annular locking ring lying within the peripheral edges of said support structure flange, a collar comprising a two step internal bore, one step of said bore arranged over said flange and locking ring means, said other step of said bore of reduced diameter and arranged over said barrel portion aforesaid.

11. In a vane ring construction having an annular vane ring and a plurality of vane members, vane mount assemblies adapted to be secured to said vane ring and comprising a substantially cylindrical vane support structure, said support structure having a flange portion and a barrel portion of reduced diameter defining a shoulder on said flange portion, an axial slot through said flange and a portion of said barrel, said vane members each comprising a blade portion and a tang depending therefrom, said tang having a base and undercut edges between said base and said vane blade portion and defining shoulders on said base, said tang constructed and arranged to be located in the slot of said support structure so that said base portion laterally extends from said slot to provide a space between said tang base shoulders and said flange shoulder, locking means disposed in the space between said flange shoulder and said tang base shoulders for retaining said vane member in said vane mount assembly, and means urging said tang base shoulders and said flange shoulder into rigid engagement with said locking means, said vane tang undercut edges aforesaid defining shoulders on said vane blade portion, said vane mount assemblies aforesaid each having a collar arranged over said support structure and against said blade portion shoulders to enclose the support structure, the vane tang, and the locking means, and means securing said support structure in said collar, said vane tang having side surfaces longitudinally continuous with a section of said blade portion and having a substantially identical contour to said blade section.

12. In a vane ring construction having an annular vane ring and a plurality of vane members, vane mount assemblies adapted to be secured to said vane ring and comprising a substantially cylindrical vane support structure, said support structure having a flange portion and a barrel portion of reduced diameter defining a shoulder on said flange portion, an axial slot through said flange and a portion of said barrel, said vane members each comprising a blade portion and a tang depending therefrom, said tang having a base and undercut edges between said base and said vane blade portion and defining shoulders on said base, said tang constructed and arranged to be located in the slot of said support structure so that said base portion laterally extends from said slot to provide a space between said tang base shoulders and said flange shoulder, locking means disposed in the space between said flange shoulder and said tang base shoulders for retaining said vane member in said vane mount assembly, and means urging said tang base shoulders and said flange shoulder into rigid engagement with said locking means, said vane tang undercut edges aforesaid defining shoulders on said vane blade portion, said vane mount assemblies aforesaid each having a collar arranged over said support structure and against said blade portion shoulders to enclose the support structure, the vane tang, and the locking means, and means securing said support structure in said collar, said vane tang having side surfaces longitudinally continuous with a section of said blade portion and having a substantially identical contour to said blade section, said slot in said support structure being of substantially identical contour in cross-section to said tang located therein.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,187,428 Homersham June 13,1916 1,720,754 Baumann July 16, 1929 FOREIGN PATENTS 937,883 France Apr. 30, 1948 

